Make-your-own-monster

Evie’s cousin Jackie spent the night.  We went swimming and watched a movie and they made their own paper plate monster.  They really had a lot of fun with this and lasted longer then I thought a 3 & 4 year old would doing this project. 

I placed bowls of items from my pantry and craft cupboard on the table, gave each girl a paint brush and a small bowl of mod podge and off they went!  Some plates turned out to be more monster-like than another, but overall, they loved creating their own art!

We had dry noodles, chow mein noodles, nibs, nilla wafers, m&M’s, chipboard pieces, marshmallows.  I just pulled from what I had on hand. 

Evie had so much fun creating her pictures, that when she ran out of paper plates, she picked up one of our dinner/salad plates (stoneware!) and started creating on that.  She had no idea that you don’t do that.  (hilarious) & I didn’t realize what she had done until she was this far along:  (I did find her more paper plates after that!)

giving away a valentine

Evelyn is fascinated with the idea of giving a valentine card away.  She goes to a preschool class and this is what she will be giving to her little friends.  I printed out the saying on the computer, attached cardstock to a chipboard heart and attached the individual hot cocoa packet to that.  (hot cocoa is her favorite!)

Valentine’s Day Decor

I admit that my winter is still out, but I have been working on valentine décor since the day after Christmas!  I’ll probably start putting valentine stuff out next week today – changed my mind!  I try to mix it up with my SNOW theme for January & February.  Anyway…here are some designs this year. 

The Countdown to Kisses idea was taken from Infarrantly Creative. I’m so excited to use it this year.  She has the tutorial on there to learn how you can make one too!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Funeral Flowers

This month, 2 of my uncles on my mom’s side passed away within 2 weeks of each other.  Both were old and had lived wonderful lives.  It was a fun reunion as a result!  I loved seeing my beloved cousins and talking with them.  It was also wonderful to hear the beautiful words my cousins expressed during the funeral about their fathers.  They were amazing men, and I know my mom adored each of them.  The second funeral was close enough that I could deliver the flowers for it from the nieces/nephews and my mom & her siblings.  It was an honor to put these together to celebrate their life!

While there, I snapped this photo of my mom and her only remaining sibling (out of 7).  This is her older sister.  I love this picture of them!

Handmade Gift Exchange

I participated in another handmade gift exchange through craftaholics anonymous.  It was so fun!  You sign up, and Linda randomly matches us up with a partner.  My partner is expecting her first child this spring and loved the phrase “I am  child of God.”  So this is what I made and sent to her. (she requested this color combo…).  I added the family initial for her to enjoy as well!  

 

My partner sent me a ton of darling hair bows for my little Evie & a bow holder.

Gift ideas & Christmas Crafts

It’s time for Christmas crafting!  My favorite craft this year is my countdown to Christmas magnetic tins.  They are so fun to make because I just think of the magic of excitement each day as a child opens a tin to find a treat or an activity inside. 

Here are a few other favorites!

Block Nativity: a scene from the nativity on each side.

Stacking Blocks: $12

Here are my favorite gift ideas for a mom, sister, wife, friend or grandma! 

 

Multi-word block set. Spells at least 17 words between the 7 blocks and covers about every season or holiday!  ($20)

FHE chalkboard!  Perfect gift for the sibling you give to this year!  $25

Message boards:  Magnetic board $25 & Dry erase board $20 (different sizes = different prices.  Can be custom made – colors, etc.)

Custom wood letters in any personalized way!  $2/letter

And, of course wood signs!  These can be made in any size and color.  You can put a custom saying or one I have already created (many to choose from!).  Prices vary. (a few samples below)

Happy shopping this season!!

Halloween Décor is back!!

It’s time to pull out the Halloween Décor.  I have a few pumpkins up already, but I’m thinking I need to add a little {SPOOKY} to it!

These blocks were made by painting them black, let it dry, add vinyl and paint over that orange.  Once dry, peel off the vinyl and there you have a fun, rustic look!

I love this witch in a frame!!  Plus, I decided to add a little sparkle to the frame and think it turned out so darling!

Technically, this is as {SPOOKY} as it gets around here!

New Vinyl Signs–FHE board, ABC board & FALL boards

My good friend Emily asked me to make her family a new FHE board. It was so fun working with her because she basically told me what she wanted, then we adjusted back and forth as we went.  So, it turned out to her liking (well, I hope so!  She’s only seen a picture of it!).  It is a chalkboard FHE board.  She’ll just write in the assigned names for the evening.  I have another boutique approaching in October, and so a made a few others for that.  Here’s a picture of one:

I saw this picture online & knew I wanted to make one for Evie.  So this is my {vinyl} take on the computer generated one: 

And of course, it’s 95 degrees outside, but fall is in the air!!!  There’s just something about school starting that makes me feel that way.  So, I had to do some Thanksgiving signs.  As I put them at the base of the tree, I thought how cute they might look actually attached to the tree!  hmmmmm. (As always, anything can be custom-made)

Love Lives Here craft

So, I know that putting this picture onto my blog, all those I am making it for will probably see it.  So sorry about the Christmas present spoiler!  But, here goes!  We made this at our super Tuesday relief society activity last week, and they turned out just adorable!  The black line is stitching and the frame is the center of a strip of cardboard, then smudge with paint.  I sanded mine after the paint was dry. 

Inside the heart are different size circle punches of paper along with buttons.  Then, of course, vinyl writing!  The original idea was in a frame, but I haven’t gotten that far yet.  We didn’t do them that night to save money.  People can get their own with a 40% off coupon.  I think when I put it in a frame, I’ll leave out the glass. 

{custom family blocks}

I found these blocks online (from the website below), and we made them at our super Saturday last night (but Tuesday night, really) for relief society. This was my take on the project. I hope my sister in law doesn’t see this post (she’s at girls camp this week) since it’s for her family for Christmas!  {Surprise!}

brown paper packages: {custom family blocks}

Craft exchange party

I joined a craft exchange party this past month.  This is what I made and sent to my partner.  I hope she likes it!  I asked her if she had any requests for vinyl projects and this is what she wanted.  I think it turned out really cute.